The venerable Walter Humes lauded the Association of Chartered Teachers Scotland at its official launch for the “splendid acronym”, ACTS, which had an almost biblical ring to it. Perhaps it should have a committee called the Apostles, he suggested helpfully.
It was so much better, he felt, than that given to a committee he sat on at Glasgow University during the merger of its education faculty with the former St Andrew’s College of Education - SAG (the Strategic Alliance Group); and the spooky acronym given to the restructured department at the University of the West of Scotland, where he is now based - HESS (Health, Education and Social Sciences).
Warming to his theme, he concluded: “You don’t have to be an enthusiastic crossword fanatic to rearrange the letters in another educational acronym, AERS (the Applied Educational Research Scheme)”.
Good for the soul
The news that PFI expert Barry White has been appointed as chief executive of the Scottish Futures Trust, to bring us all spanking new schools and hospitals, prompted us to think of the other Barry “Sultan of Smooth Soul” White.
As it happens, his first album was titled “I’ve Got So Much to Give”. Perhaps Finance Secretary John Swinney had this in mind when he said he looked forward to Barry Mark II “making a substantial contribution to improving the value for money of public investment in Scotland”.
We prefer the musical Barry’s way with words.
It’s an education
Housebuilders Applecross have been busy building flats and townhouses on the site of the old Williamwood High, which moved to pastures new in 2006. Not only do the new homes bear an uncanny resemblance to the old school, but the builders have gone all out to attract owners through their “William-wood. It’s an education” sales campaign, reminding would-be buyers that the new Williamwood is minutes away from “the two best schools in the area”.
As a former member of Williamwood staff put it: “We used to spend our time trying to get the kids into the old school and now Applecross is doing the same with the punters, so nothing on the site has really changed.”
No milky way
Who to believe? The Government’s nutritional standards for schools want pupils to be given semi-skilled milk only (and food as well of course). Now, a group of East Lothian parents is demanding they be allowed to get full-fat milk if they wish. And nutritionist Rafe Bundy at Glasgow University appears to support them: full-fat milk contains only 4 per cent fat, he says, and is actually a low-fat product.
Confused?
